Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) joined at a press conference in November with Charlotte Lozier Institute and Family Research Council, who are helping Americans find which insurance plans cover abortions.Photo credit: SBA List

Although federal law prohibits taxpayer subsidies for elective abortions, regulations under the Affordable Care Act prevent disclosure of the abortion surcharge to customers, who then unknowingly pay the fee to cover elective abortions.

“No one should be forced to pay a secret fee to cover other people’s elective abortions,” said ADF Senior Counsel Casey Mattox. “The Obama administration needs to stop deceiving the American people and coercing them to fund abortion. No matter where a person stands on abortion itself, everyone should be able to agree that this type of intentional and illegal deception is wrong and should stop.”

The ADF comment filed with HHS and OPM explains that the proposed rules fail to protect consumers because they continue “to permit insurance companies to confuse abortion coverage and conceal the abortion premium surcharge.”

“If Americans are to be forced off their existing, chosen insurance plans and into the ACA insurance exchanges regulated by your agencies, they should at least be entitled to full disclosure of the contents of the plans on those exchanges and what they are paying for,” the comment states. “Unfortunately, the proposed rules do not protect consumers, and in fact may continue to mislead them into enrolling in abortion-including plans and paying for others’ abortions in violation of their conscience.”

“Whatever one’s views of abortion, the current exchanges and plans regulated by your agencies do not protect any ‘right to choose’ abortion coverage,” the comment continues. “In fact, they leave many Americans without a choice that fits both their health needs and respects their right of conscience. They deceive and compel Americans to pay for others’ elective abortions. This is unconscionable and within your power to correct.”

The Charlotte Lozier Institute and Family Research Council have collaborated on a new website that allows citizens to find out whether their Obamacare plans cover elective abortions and thus require the hidden abortion surcharge.